The Cantaloupe Thief

Down sick with bronchitis, I settled into this completely new author and series. The tropical appearance of the cover first caught my attention. Then, I got caught in the mystery of people of the The Cantaloupe Thief.

Branigan is a local reporter working for a dying newspaper. She is assigned an article on a cold case murder whose 10 year anniversary is coming. The murder rocked the little town when a well known society lady is stabbed to death in her own kitchen. At the time of the murder, a homeless man was accused of the crime.

Branigan decides to look into a recent hit-and-run murder of a homeless man while researching her cold case. With the help of her friend, Liam who runs a local homeless shelter. She tries to bring attention to the senseless and forgotten murder of the homeless.

While she is trying to research and solve these mysteries, her drug addicted, homeless brother resurfaces as many years away. As her twin, Davison's addiction and disappearance has often haunted Branigan. Hoping this will begin a new drug-free chapter in Davison's life, she begins to support him while still searching for the truth.

Soon, Branigan realizes the cold case is warming up and the mysterious deaths of local homeless people may be attempts to conceal the true identity of the murderer.

As I said before, this is my first mystery by Deb Richardson-Moore. I enjoyed it. I am curious to read more about Branigan and her family. I especially enjoyed how the author addressed the homeless issue and how society is so willing to look through those people we don't want to know.

Cold case reopening of a 10 year old murder. Based around the homeless in Georgia. Very slow moving with an abrupt end.